Abby Lee Miller finally got her prison sentence today. Reporters from inside the courtroom tweeted live as it happened. She was sentenced to one year and one day in Federal Prison. She will serve approximately ten months of that term. She was also sentenced to two years of supervised release.
Before the sentencing several character witnesses testified on Abby Lee’s behalf. One lifelong friend of Abby’s testified that Abby followed the advice of her lawyer with regard to her bankruptcy proceedings. It appears that Abby had some of her Dance Moms check held to be dispersed after the bankruptcy was completed. The character witnesses say that the real Abby is not the person we see on the reality show.
Abby took complete responsibility for her criminal activities. Her lawyer said that Abby was not equipped to deal with the fame and finances of Dance Moms.
The prosecutor said that Abby ignored the judge and the bankruptcy trustee who gave her several warnings about concealing finances. They said that Abby showed disdain for the bankruptcy process. Abby was already in trouble with the bankruptcy concealment when she decided to hide $120,000 in suitcases when she returned from a business trip in Australia. “It is fraud, after fraud, after fraud,” the prosecutor stated. He also said she went from “Dance Mom” to “Dance Con.”
In Abby’s statement to the judge she said that she really wishes the judge could take her class, and that she would really like to go to lunch with her after this is all over. Oh Abby. No. Just noe. “Dance Moms became a hit and I became a laughing stock of reality TV,” she said. She also said she didn’t realize she was signing a four year contract when she signed on to the show. She apparently thought it was just a release form. She regrets not holding herself to the same standards she held her dancers to. She tearfully stated she will never be in court again.
The judge then sentenced her to one year and one day followed by two years supervised release to be served in the prison closest to Los Angeles with available space. Both the judge and the prosecutor were disturbed by the continued fraud she committed even while she was already under a federal investigation. She must follow the rules of her supervised release and be honest in answering her probation officer’ s questions. She was also fined $40,000 and had to pay a $120,000 judgment regarding the “airplane money.” She also has to submit a DNA sample due to the felony conviction.
She will self report to prison in approximately 45 days. She will not be appealing her sentence.
The Twitter line of journalist Steve Pope was the primary source of this post.
She I think, will be okay. She accepted responsibility, kudos for THAT!! I just love me some Abby Lee Miller and don’t feel any differently about her.
I guess they’ll have to change the theme song to “My world is with my girls, living in a jail cell!”!
Does anyone know what will happen to the show? Will Chloe return and will another teacher take over?
I felt like they were setting it up for that other teacher to take over and Chloe to come back with that finale.
They hired that Cheryl Burke chick from DWTS to replace her
I hate it when people go to jail over such little money. 🙁
Over such little money? She committed fraud!
Wow! I use to watch her show years ago.
Who was her witness?
There were two. Both women that were her lifelong friends. Just real people not from the show.
I believe Cheryl Burke from DWTS is taking over the show. Not sure of all the details or if the same dancers will return.
I don’t have a problem with her sentence, and it is refreshing she was remorseful. She is a pretty woman, I read she is getting weight loss surgery I think Teresa deserved at least as much time, actually more time and that pisses me off.,
She still makes me angry, still lying and has learned nothing.
Chin up Abby. Graceful under pressure despite an owned misstep. Classically trained to remain poised and land on her feet.
I must say I’m a bit shocked at her sentence. I don’t know why. I somehow felt she was going to get out of this or receive a slap on the wrist. I find myself feeling a bit sad for her. I know she did criminal things and must pay for it but she really isn’t as tough as her tv persona, I don’t think. I can’t see her doing very well in a rough prison in LA. I don’t know if she’s going to some easier prison camp or something but if she’s in regular prison it’s going to be hard on her. She’s not like Teresa she doesn’t have street smarts.
She committed fraud, repeatedly. She’s tough.
I’m pissed off she got more time than Tre. The amt. of money involved is minuscule in comparison to what Tre. & Joe swindled. They have not accepted much, if any responsibility at all!! I am encouraged Abby owned her mistake and apologized.
She didn’t get as much time as Tre.
FL Governor Rick Scott was guilty of committing the biggest medicare fraud in the history of the program while CEO of HCA. Never did a day of jail time. Abby does a little naughty and she goes to prison. WTF?
I am sorry Abby is going to jail. I thought she would get community service or a very short sentence. She seems too fragile for jail and I hope they place her in “jail lite” as they did with Teresa. This is sad. One cannot help but wonder whether Melissa and Maddie reached out to her during this time.
It’s a federal white collar crime. She’ll go to “jail light”.
SMH. Disappointed in ALM.
Tried posting before, no luck.
Best of luck to Abby. Hope the awful moms are better role models to their children if there is another season of Dance Moms.
Jail is a lousy outcome. Since she is going, I hope this time away from her life will give her breathing room. Calm herself and refocus. Abby is smart enough to do some self-reflection, etc., unlike Tre, Abby is able to think.